News

July 22, 2013

Arkansas Truck Driver Wins $10,000 in Missouri

An over-the-road truck driver from Bentonville, Ark., stopped for a break in Missouri and bought a $10,000 winning Missouri Lottery Scratchers ticket. Brandon Pruitt, 28, said he likes to play the lottery when he’s on the road, but noted that he plays most often in Arkansas and Missouri, with Missouri being his luckiest state.

“When I buy the $10 and $20 tickets, I usually win at least $100 to $200,” said Pruitt.

Pruitt bought the winning “Millionaire” Scratchers ticket at the Pilot Travel Center, 1701 Highway 84, in Hayti. He recalled a run of smaller wins that lead to him purchasing the $10 “Millionaire” game.

“After I scratched it, I just kind of looked at it. I really didn’t believe it,” he relayed. “I took my glasses off and cleaned them. I looked at it again. It took me a little while to come out of the shock of winning.”

Pruitt delivered his load in St. Louis, dropped off his truck at the Maverick Transportation terminal, and then scooted over to the St. Louis Lottery office to claim his prize. He said he would share the prize with his mother, who is recovering from heart by-pass surgery.

“I’m giving half of it to my mom, to help her out, and then my wife and I are going to use it for bills to try and get caught up ourselves,” he declared. “It will relieve quite a bit of stress.”

Pruitt said that he’ll continue to play the Lottery, especially in Missouri.

“When I’ve got a little extra money, I’ll play a few, win or lose,” he said. “It just gives me something extra to do. I just bought two more tickets and won $20 on one and $15 on the other.”

“Millionaire” is a $10 game that officially began May 20. The game features a top prize of $1 million. More than $26 million in prizes, including two top prizes, remain in the game. Track prizes remaining for any Missouri Lottery Scratchers game here at MOLottery.com.